Cercidiphyllum plant named ‘JWW4’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Cercidiphyllum japonicum  plant named, ‘JWW4’, that is characterized by its compact, upright, even, and nearly globular plant habit, its growth habit that does not form a central leader, and its young shoots that are bronze-orange in color.

Botanical classification: Cercidiphyllum japonicum.

Variety denomination: ‘JWW4’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cercidiphyllum japonicum and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘JWW4’. ‘JWW4’ is a new cultivar of Katsura tree for use as an ornamental landscape plant.

The Inventor selected the new cultivar, ‘JWW4’, as a seedling in a seedbed at his nursery in Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands in June of 2008. The seedbed had been planted with seeds collected from an unnamed and unpatented proprietary seedling of Cercidiphyllum japonicum that had been open pollinated.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor by grafting in summer of 2009 in Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by grafting has determined that the unique characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘JWW4’ as a unique cultivar of Cercidiphyllum.

-   -   1. ‘JWW4’ exhibits a compact, upright, even, nearly globular         plant habit.     -   2. ‘JWW4’ exhibits a growth habit that does not form a central         leader.     -   3. ‘JWW4’ exhibits young shoots that are bronze-orange in color.         The female plant differs from ‘JWW4’ in having a short central         leader, in having a less compact plant habit and in lacking         young shoots that are bronze-orange in color. ‘JWW4’ can be most         closely compared to the Cercidiphyllum japonicum cultivars         ‘Heronswood Globe’ (not patented) and ‘Krukenberg Dwarf’ (not         patented). Both are similar to ‘JWW4’ in having a compact plant         habit. Both ‘Heronswood Globe’ and ‘Krukenberg Dwarf’ differ         from ‘JWW4’ in having a short central leader, in having an ovate         plant shape, and in having young shoots that are reddish purple         in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Cercidiphyllum. The photographs were taken of a two year-old plant of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in 21-cm containers in Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the overall plant habit of ‘JWW4’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close up view of the young shoots of ‘JWW4’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the mature foliage and stems of ‘JWW4’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Cercidiphyllum.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of two year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in 21-cm containers in Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands. Plants were grown under average day temperatures ranging from 12° to 25° C. and average night temperatures of 4° to 15° C. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Flowering have not been observed on the new             cultivar.         -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Compact, upright, globular to broadly ovate             shape.         -   Plant size.—Reaches an average of 3.5 m in height and spread             as a ten year-old plant in the landscape.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 5.         -   Diseases and pests.—Similar to other Cercidiphyllum             japonicum cultivars, which typically are disease and pest             free.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate, 24 months to fully develop in a 21-cm             container. -   Branch description:     -   -   Branch shape.—Round.         -   Branch color.—Young shoots; upper surface emerges a blend of             180A and 181A and changes to 164A, lower surface 146D,             mature branches on upper and lower surfaces; a blend between             148B and 197B, bark (mature branches and trunk); 199A and             199B and 200A.         -   Branch size.—An average of 26.1 cm in length and 2 mm in             diameter.         -   Trunk diameter.—2.5 cm measured 2 cm above the soil line on             a 2 year-old tree.         -   Branch surface.—Glabrous and glossy, bark smooth, glabrous             and slightly glossy.         -   Branch aspect.—Held at an average angle of 30° to main stem,             other lateral branches held at an average angle of 55° to             main stem.         -   Branch strength.—Very strong.         -   Branching.—Free branching, an average of 18 lateral             branches.         -   Internode length.—An average of 3.6 cm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Broadly ovate to obovate to nearly orbicular.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Obtuse to undeeply truncate or very short             acuminate.         -   Leaf apex.—Obtuse to broadly acute.         -   Leaf fragrance.—A pleasant “burnt sugar” like fragrance,             typical for Cercidiphyllum present in autumn when leaves             have dropped.         -   Leaf venation.—Laciniate, color; upper surface 144B to 144C             and lower surface 144C to 144D.         -   Leaf margins.—Crenate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous, both sides matte.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 7.2 cm in length and 6.4 cm in             width.         -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 16 (8 pairs).         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; a blend of 174A and 180A,             young lower surface; 147C and suffused with 176C, mature             upper surface; 143A to 143B, mature lower surface; 138B,             fall color; primarily 12A and 13B on both surfaces, fading             to 28B and darker (strongly depending on local             climatological and environmental circumstances).         -   Petioles.—An average of 3.2 mm in length and 1.5 mm in             width, color; upper surface 180B and lower surface 153D with             145D at proximal and distal ends, smooth surface.         -   Stipules.—A small filiform is present on the upper side of             the base of the petiole, 3 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width,             cuneate base, narrow acute to cleft apex, 150D in color. -   Inflorescence/fruit description: No flowers or fruit have been     observed to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cercidiphyllum plant named ‘JWW4’ as herein illustrated and described. 